StatCounter Archives

Winsage

May 3, 2025

Microsoft’s Free Upgrade Offer Hits New High—Check Your Windows PC Now

Microsoft is alerting Windows users about a significant cyber threat as many PCs will stop receiving essential security updates. A free upgrade to Windows 11 is recommended, which offers enhanced security, but 240 million users remain at risk. Microsoft encourages users with outdated PCs to transition to Windows 11, which requires a TPM 2.0 security module. As of April, Windows 11's adoption has reached 44%, while 53% of users are still on Windows 10, though this percentage is declining. The gap between Windows 11 and Windows 10 usage has narrowed to within 10%. Users unable to upgrade may face security risks and should consider safer alternatives, including transitioning to passkeys instead of passwords for their Microsoft accounts.

Winsage

May 3, 2025

Here’s why Windows 7 took so long to boot with solid color backgrounds in 2009

Some users of Windows 7 experienced a 30-second boot delay when using solid color desktop backgrounds shortly after its launch in October 2009. This issue arose because Windows waited for system components, including desktop icons and the background, to report readiness. If any element was absent, the operating system paused for up to 30 seconds. The problem was also linked to group policies that hid desktop icons. Microsoft addressed the glitch by November 2009. As of recent data, Windows 7's market share has decreased to 2.5 percent, and Microsoft has ceased support for the operating system.

Winsage

May 2, 2025

20% off Windows 365 expires as Windows 10 support ends

Microsoft has reduced the price of Windows 365 and is encouraging Windows 10 users to consider this option as support for Windows 10 ends on October 14, 2025. The Extended Security Updates (ESU) program allows users to receive security patches for a fee, starting at £35.60 per device per month in the UK, with costs doubling in subsequent years. Windows 365 provides access to a Windows 11 Cloud PC and offers a 20 percent discount for first-time users. Windows 365 currently costs £35.60 per user per month in the UK, €41.40 in the EU, and a similar amount in the US. Recent data shows Windows 10 holds 52.94 percent of the market share, while Windows 11 is at 43.72 percent. The offer for Windows 365 concludes on October 31, 2025.

Winsage

May 2, 2025

Amid the slow death of Windows 10, Microsoft’s CEO reveals a bold stat about Windows 11

Microsoft will end support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, meaning no more security patches will be provided. As of April 2024, Windows 10 comprised 70% of Windows users, but this dropped to 54% by April 2025. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella reported a nearly 75% increase in commercial deployments of Windows 11 year over year. Transitioning from Windows 10 to Windows 11 is free, but Windows 11 requires more RAM and memory, which may not be compatible with older hardware. Microsoft continues to release updates for Windows 11, with the latest security update on April 25 and the anticipated 24H2 version released in October 2024. The next version, Windows 11 25H2, is expected between September and October 2025.

Winsage

April 22, 2025

More Americans are on Windows 11 than Windows 10: the older OS is getting abandoned en masse

Microsoft will officially cease support for Windows 10 on October 14, compelling users to transition to Windows 11, which has more demanding hardware requirements. Users with older systems may struggle to meet these requirements, and Microsoft will not guarantee updates for installations on unsupported hardware. Windows 10 will continue to receive support until October 2025, after which paid updates will be available. The Trusted Platform Module (TPM) is emphasized in Windows 11 for enhanced security, providing encryption and verifying software integrity. Recent statistics show that Windows 11 has surpassed Windows 10 in market share in the U.S., with 54% of users on Windows 11 compared to 44% on Windows 10. However, Windows 10 still holds a 55% market share in Europe and over 60% in Asia.

Winsage

April 18, 2025

Microsoft still has a massive Windows 10 problem – and there’s no easy way out

Microsoft's Windows 10 will reach its end-of-support date on October 14, 2025, after a standard 10-year support lifecycle. Most editions, including Home, Pro, and Enterprise, will stop receiving updates, although PCs running Windows 10 will continue to function without updates. Windows 10 Enterprise Long Term Servicing editions have different end dates, with some extending support until 2029. Current data indicates that approximately 1.6% of Windows 10 PCs are replaced by Windows 11 each month, suggesting that around 35% of the 1.4 billion Windows devices will still be using Windows 10 by the end-of-support date, equating to over 500 million PCs potentially vulnerable to cyber threats. As of April 2025, about 54% of PCs globally are still running Windows 10. Users likely to remain on Windows 10 include those with incompatible hardware, corporate environments that have standardized on Windows 10, and users resistant to upgrading due to dissatisfaction with Windows 11. Microsoft faces challenges related to a significant number of unsupported PCs, and while extended support options exist for enterprise customers, consumer adoption is expected to be low. Users unable or unwilling to upgrade may consider non-Microsoft operating systems or continue using Windows 10 without official support, which poses security risks.

AppWizard

April 15, 2025

Android 12 and 12L have received their last official Google security update

Google has officially ended support for Android 12 and Android 12L, with the last security patch released in March 2025. As of March 31, 2025, these operating systems will no longer receive updates or security enhancements. Over 12% of Android devices globally are still using Android 12 or 12L. OEMs may choose to backport security releases, and users can switch to custom ROMs for continued updates. Popular devices still running these operating systems include the Samsung Galaxy S10 series, Google Pixel 3a series, and OnePlus 7 series.

Winsage

April 2, 2025

Forget Satya Nadella’s Windows Phone fumble, Bill Gates’ “greatest mistake of all time” cost Microsoft $400 billion

CEO Satya Nadella acknowledged a strategic error in discontinuing the Windows Phone during its peak popularity. Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, identified his greatest mistake as failing to dominate the mobile space, which allowed Android to take the lead. Gates attributed this failure to his mismanagement and antitrust challenges that hindered Microsoft's growth. Android, acquired by Google in 2005 and launched in 2008, is now the world's most popular operating system, holding a market share of 45.53%, compared to Windows' 25.36%. Gates conceded that Microsoft's missed opportunity in the mobile sector could have positioned the company as a leader. Rich Miner, co-founder of Android, criticized Gates for his misplaced lamentations regarding Microsoft's mobile missteps.

Winsage

April 2, 2025

Microsoft’s Free Upgrade Deadline—Millions Of Windows Users Suddenly Move

Microsoft has made significant changes to Windows, including the elimination of passwords and new account access methods, while warning users about risks like data breaches and identity theft. Windows 10 users face an urgent transition as support ends in six months, with a free upgrade to Windows 11 available for eligible PCs. Recent data shows a 4% increase in Windows 10 users switching to Windows 11, with Windows 10's market share dropping to 54% and Windows 11 rising to over 40%. However, security hardware requirements may prevent some users from upgrading, potentially affecting around 240 million PCs. Users can purchase a 12-month extension for home use, while business users may incur higher fees for extended support. After the support deadline, Microsoft will stop providing updates and security fixes for Windows 10, increasing cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Transitioning to Windows 11 is crucial for users to access the latest security features.

Winsage

April 1, 2025

Windows 10 holdouts are finally starting to switch to Windows 11

As of March 2025, Windows 10's market share has declined to 54.23%, experiencing a drop of 4.43 percentage points. Meanwhile, Windows 11's user adoption has increased by 4.53 percentage points, reaching 42.66% of all Windows desktop users. The decline in Windows 10's user base is influenced by the impending end of support in October, prompting users to consider upgrading to Windows 11 or paying for an extension of Windows 10 support to avoid losing security updates.